Ship to Wreck

25

Christian sat in his chair in the clubhouse, far more quiet than he typically was pre-game. His thoughts were consumed by Athena and their baby, who was probably moving around like the perfect girl she was.

How did his life get to this? How did he go from being Milwaukee's most eligible bachelor to not being able to get his dick up? How did he fall in love so quickly? Let himself become so gullible?

He didn't feel things. He didn't love. Purely so that he wouldn't feel this. He was in pain. Every breath felt like a struggle. Every step was like he was moving through molasses.

"CY, bud," Lorenzo Cain frowned, sitting in front of the man he saw as a little brother. "Talk to me."

Christian looked up at Lorenzo, sighing deeply. He was so tired. "I love her so damn much, Lo," he whispered. "But she's hurt me. So much... How am I supposed to trust that she won't hurt me again?"

Lorenzo's heart ached for his friend, and he sighed, handing Christian a picture from his wallet. It was a picture of Jenny holding a newborn Cameron, a smile bright on Lorenzo's face.

"You don't need to trust she won't hurt you again. At least, not yet. You need to think about that beautiful girl she's carrying. Let that get you through it... Because this moment? It is the best feeling you will ever have. The most love you will ever feel. I am so sorry you are hurting, bud," Lorenzo said quietly, noting the tears starting to form in his friend's eyes.

"I felt her move... Right before I left home. And all I could think of is how I've been a horrible dad lately... I'd been treating Thenes like shit," Christian sighed, wiping the traitorous tears.

"You're hurt. You will need to apologize, for sure, but she needs to understand how hurt you are. She's put you through a lot, Christian."

"I hate that I still love her so much. That she could hurt me as much as she has... Called me a mistake more than once... And I still love her. I'm fucking pathetic," Christian scoffed, trying to take a deep breath to calm the shaking of his hands.

"That's love, man. It's messy. You aren't pathetic, dude. How many times do I have to tell you that you aren't pathetic for feeling?" Lorenzo asked, an eyebrow raised. "And you aren't a mistake, either."

Christian just shrugged, looking at his hands and clutching them into a fist. "I'm fine... I need to get over myself. The baby is coming sooner than later and she deserves all of me. All that I have to offer."

"You're a good man, Christian. You need to be patient and accept some warmth from her. It'll all work itself out and you will feel much more secure in your decisions."

"Thanks, Lo," Christian smiled a bit, giving the man in front of him a hug.

He just needed to be patient.

***

Christian got home after the road trip and took a deep breath, hanging his keys on the hook by the door. He'd thought a lot since his conversation with Lorenzo and while he didn't know what he was going to do, he felt better about coexisting.

"Athena?" Christian said softly, going over to her bedroom. The scene in front of him warmed his heart. Athena was snoozing, her glasses crooked on her face and Sadie curled up with her nose on her baby bump.

Christian was madly in love with all three of his girls, and he needed to be better for them all. He needed to be the best person he could be. He took a picture for his own reference and carefully took Athena's glasses off and put them on the nightstand, gently kissing her temple.